Championship Series

News

Akron, Ohio - After taking a day off due to Mother Nature, The Akron Racers and Chicago Bandits were back in action Saturday for a double header.

The day started with Akron managing an exciting bottom of the seventh rally. With the score tied at two and one out Racer Iyhia McMichael stepped up and walked for the third time to get things going. McMichael then stole second base for the second time.

An error and intentional walk later, the bases were loaded for clean-up hitter Kristen Butler. Butler proceeded to lace a walk-off single bringing McMichael home for her third run.

In her first appearance as a Racer, pitcher Juarez controlled Chicago's bats. Juarez retired the first ten batters she faced before walking designated player, Peaches James.

First baseman Jaime Clark drove in James with an RBI single to tie the game at one. An error by Racer second baseman Veronica Wootson, who attempted to scoop and toss the ball to first in one motion, allowed Clark to come all the way around from first. The run gave Chicago the lead at 2-1.

That was all the damage that Chicago could do as Juarez (1-0) went on to the complete game victory surrendering five hits and two walks in seven innings.

For Chicago, relief pitcher Jessica Sallinger got the loss giving up one run on three walks and a hit to go along with one run in two innings of work.

Game 2 - Racers 7, Bandits 2

The second game was certainly more one-sided. Akron picked up their first run in the bottom of the first inning when Middleton reached on a two out error by Bandit second baseman Peaches James. Middleton scored when Butler hit a double.

Akron would extend the lead in the second inning, Catcher Jenn Poore crushed a solo home run and Akron native and Racer Tracee McCoy followed with a double. Wootson would hit an RBI single to plate McCoy and make the game 3-0.

Chicago came back earning two unearned runs when Racer third baseman Norrelle Dickson's error with two outs extended the inning and brought up Nicole Trimboli. The former Racer would make Akron pay for the extra out as she blasted a home run that pulled Chicago back within one at 3-2.

Akron punched right back with a huge four run inning in the bottom of the third. Dickson started with a lead off single. After two consecutive outs, shortstop Kristin Johnson smashed a double to plate Dickson. Not learning from Akron's two out error, the Bandits gave up back to back errors themselves, extending the inning for McCoy. The right fielder hit a double adding the final two runs of the inning.

Radara McHugh got her second complete game win of the season, giving up no earned runs on just three hits. Amy Harre got the loss for the Bandits.